Stackable bed



June 20 1967 J. 0. BLACK 3,325,830

STACKABLE BED Filed April 27, 1965 I N VE NTOR.

p770 R/VEVSZ United States Patent O 3,325,830 STACKAELE BEE) John 0. Black, 18694 Parkside, Detroit, Mich. 48221 Filed Apr. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 451,255 Ciaims. (Cl. 5-8) ABSTRACT OF THE DISGLOSURE This invention relates to a stackable bed and more particularly to a bed having at least two portions that may be freely swung from a storage position to an operative position.

This application represents the improvement over the invention shown in my copending patent application of the same title, Ser. No. 454,045, filed May 7, 1965. In that patent application, a bed construction was disclosed that permitted convenient stacking of a plurality of bed portions by means of a pivotal connection between the individual portions. The pivotal connection permits convenient manipulation from a vertically stacked storage relationship to an operative position.

Although the structure shown in my earlier application provides a very convenient operation, different length mattress supporting portions must be provided to allow clearance for the relative swinging movement. The pivotal connection between the bed portions also requires their juxtaposition even when in the extended or operative position. The interconnection between the bed portions disclosed in my prior application normally must be applied to the bed frames when they are being constructed and does not permit convenient adaptation of conventional bed frames to a stackable bed by means of a kit that may be purchased separately.

A stackable bed embodying this invention comprises first and second supporting portions. One of the portions is supported on a different level than the other portion so that the portions may be stored in a vertically stacked relationship. The portions are interconnected for relative pivotal and lateral movement by means of a pair of telescoping members that are supported for relative lateral sliding movement. One of the telescoping members is affixed to one of the bed portions and the other of the telescoping members is pivotally connected to the other of the bed portions.

A principal object of this invention, therefore, is an improved stackable bed.

A further object is a stackable bed having pivotally connected portions.

An additional object is a stackable bed having pivotal and laterally movable portions.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following specification, claims and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stackable bed embodying this invention, showing the bed portions in their storage positions;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, in part similar to FIGURE 1, showing the bed portions in an intermediate position between their storage and their operative positions;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the bed shown in FIG- URE 1 on a smaller scale; and

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of the encircled area of FIGURE 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a stackable bed assembly embodying this invention is identified generally by the reference numeral 11. The bed assembly 11 comprises an upper bed portion 12 having a frame 13 that supports a mattress 14 and a lower bed portion 15 comprised of a frame 16 that supports a mattress 17. The bed portions 12 and 15 are supported for relative pivotal and lateral movement by a supporting mechanism, indicated generally by the reference numeral 18.

The frame 13 of the upper bed portion 12 may be of any conventional type, however, in the disclosed embodiment it includes a tubular side rail 19 which also forms a portion of the supporting mechanism 18. A pair of legs 21 and 22 support the bed portion 12 upon the floor in a known manner. A third leg (not shown) is provided at the rear corner of the other end of the bed portion 12. The frame 16 of the lower bed portion 15 also may be of any conventional structure, however, in the illustrated embodiment it is provided with a pair of notched out recesses 23 and 24 for a purpose which will become more apparent as this description proceeds.

Referring now to the supporting mechanism 18, as has been noted the tubular side rail 19 of the upper bed frame 13 forms a part of this construction. A sliding member 25 is telescopically received within the tubular member 19. The member 25 has a shape that is complementary to the inner surface of the tubular side rail 19 for free sliding motion. The member 25 has an integral depending leg portion 26. The lower end of the leg portion 26 may, in some embodiments, terminate at a caster. In the illustrated embodiment, however, the caster is deleted since the lower bed frame 16 is provided with casters 27 at each of its corners to facilitate rolling thereof. A tubular bearing 28 is journaled upon the depending leg portion 26 (FIGURE 4). The tubular bearing 28 is affixed in any suitable manner to the lower bed frame 16 adjacent one corner thereof.

It will be noted from FIGURE 3 that the upper frame 13 and lower frame 16 are substantially the same length so that the mattresses 14 and 17 also may be of the same size. In the storage position of the bed, the legs 21 and 22 interengage the recesses 23 and 24 in the lower bed frame 16 to preclude relative pivotal movement between the bed portions 12 and 15. When it is desired to move the bed portions 12 and 15 from the storage to an operative position, the beds are moved laterally with respect to each other by sliding the telescoping member 25 with respect to the tubular side rail 19. This may be accomplished by moving the bed portion 12 and holding the bed portion 15 fixed relative to the floor. In the illustrated embodiment, however, the lower bed portion 15 is the one which is moved since it is supported upon the casters 27. The dotted line view of FIGURE 4 illustrates the relative position of the supporting mechanism 18 when the bed is extended for pivotal movement. It is to be understood that any desired amount of lateral extension may be made within the confines of the relative lengths of the telescoping parts 19 and 25. This permits a great latitude in the relative locations of the bed portions 12 and 15 when in their operative position.

After the lateral movement between the bed portions 12 and 15 has been accomplished, the portions are pivoted with respect .to each other. Again, it is to be understood that either portion may be fixed relative to the floor and the other moved. In the illustrated embodiment, the portion 15 is rotated with respect to the portion 12 by turning the tubular bearing 28 on the depending leg portion 26. FIGURE 2 illustrates the portions in an intermediate portion prior to their being positioned in their operative position.

In the illustrated embodiment, the supporting portion 18 includes a tubular side rail 19 that is a part of the upper frame assembly 13. It is to be understood that the side rail 19 may be separate from the bed frame 13 as are the remaining parts. This permits a kit to be sold comprised of the tubular side rail 19, the telescoping member 25 with its depending leg 26 and the tubular bearing 28. Conventional bed frames may be purchased to which these parts are attached so that a stackable bed may be formed. Various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of furniture comprising a pair of parallelly extending supporting members and means interconnecting said members for relative pivotal and lateral movement, said means comprismg a pair of telescoping members supported for relative lateral sliding movement,

means affixing one of said telescoping members to one of said supporting members, and

means pivotaly connecting the other of said supporting members to the other of said telescoping members.

2. A stackable bed comprising a first mattress supporting portion,

means supporting said first mat-tress supporting portion upon a floor,

a second mattress supporting portion, said second mattress supporting portion being supported on a different level than said first portion for storage of said portion in a vertically stacked relationship, and

means interconnecting said portions for relative pivotal and lateral movement, said means comprising a pair of telescoping members supported for relative lateral sliding movement,

means aflixing one of said telescoping members to one of said mattress supporting portions, and

means pivotally connecting the other of said mattress supporting portions to the other of said telescoping members.

3. A stackable bed comprising a first mattress supporting portion,

means for supporting said first supporting portion upon a floor,

a second mattress supporting portion, said second portion being supported on a different level than said first portion for storage of said portionsin a vertical- 1y stacked relationship, said second portion and said first portion having substantially the same length, and

means interconnecting said portions for relative pivotal and lateral movement, said means comprising a tubular guide member,

means affixing said guide member to one of said portions,

a sliding member telescopically received in said guide member, said sliding member having an offset depending leg portion at the exposed end thereof, and

means journaling the other of said portions upon said depending leg portion.

4. A stackable bed comprising a first mattress supporting portion,

leg means for supporting said first portion upon a floor,

a second mattress supporting portion, said second portion being supported on a different level than said first portion for storage of said portions in a vertically stacked relationship, said portions having substantially the same length, and

means interconnecting said portions for relative pivotal and lateral movement, said means comprising a tubular guide member,

means affixing said guide member to one of said portions,

a sliding member telescopically received in said guide member, said sliding member having an ofiset depending leg portion at the exposed end thereof,

means pivotally supporting the other of said portions upon said depending leg portion, and

interengaging means upon said mattress supporting portions for precluding pivotal movement of said portions when in the stacked position and when said sliding member is telescoped into said guide member.

5. Means for stackably interconnecting a pair of bed mattress supporting portions comprising a tubular guide member adapted to be affixed to one of said portions,

a sliding member telescopically received in said guide member, said sliding member having an oflFset depending leg portion at the exposed end thereof, and

a bearing member journaled upon said depending leg portion and adapted to be connected to the other of the mattress supporting portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 819,305 5/1906 McLewee 512 2,151,257 3/1939 Wuest et al 518 2,688,997 9/1954 Miller 5184 X 2,920,330 1/1960 Reaney 5-8 3,117,324 1/1964 Sevcik 5-185 CASMIR A, NUNBERG, Primary Examiner, 

1. AN ARTICLE OF FUNITURE COMPRISING A PAIR OF PARALLELLY EXTENDING SUPPORTING MEMBERS AND MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID MEMBERS FOR RELATIVE PIVOTAL AND LATERAL MOVEMENT, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF TELESCOPING MEMBERS SUPPORTED FOR RELATIVE LATERAL SLIDING MOVEMENT, MEANS AFFIXING ONE OF SAID TELESCOPING MEMBERS TO ONE OF SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS, AND MEANS PIVOTALY CONNECTING THE OTHER OF SAID SUP PORTING MEMBERS TO THE OTHER OF SAID TELESCOPING MEMBERS. 